Rastignac, so placed that he was able to fathom the manoeuvres of the two bankers, came to breakfast that morning with Madame de Nucingen.
Delphine and Rastignac had no secrets from each other; and the baroness related to him her scene with the countess.

Eugene, who had never supposed that Delphine could be mixed up in the affair, which was only accessory to his eyes,--one means among many others,--opened her eyes to the truth.

She had probably, he told her, destroyed du Tillet's chances of selection, and rendered useless the intrigues and deceptions of the past year.

In short, he put her in the secret of the whole affair, advising her to keep absolute silence as to the mistake she had just committed.
"Provided the cashier does not tell Nucingen," she said.
A few moments after mid-day, while du Tillet was breakfasting, Monsieur Gigonnet was announced.
"Let him come in," said the banker, though his wife was at table.

"Well, my old Shylock, is our man locked up ?" "No." "Why not?
Didn't I give you the address, rue du Mail, hotel--" "He has paid up," said Gigonnet, drawing from his wallet a pile of bank-bills.